Reps Reject Bill to Strip INEC of Party Registration Powers, Principle of Rotational Presidency, 5 Others (Full List)

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to remove the power of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register and regulate political parties. The bill proposed transferring that responsibility to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties. Co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Francis Waive, the bill was presented for second reading but was defeated through a voice vote during Tuesday’s plenary session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

In addition to the INEC bill, six other constitution amendment bills were also voted down. Among them was a proposal sponsored by Deputy Speaker Kalu to establish rotational presidency across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Another bill, sponsored by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, sought to create and empower Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and Area Councils in the FCT to strengthen grassroots accountability.

Rep. Ihonvbere also sponsored two more bills—one to increase the number of Federal High Court judges to a minimum of 100, and another to expand the court’s jurisdiction to include admiralty matters and navigation across Nigeria’s inland waterways and ports.

The House also rejected a bill empowering the National Judicial Council and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to determine and review the salaries and emoluments of judicial officers and judiciary staff. A separate bill by Rep. Francis Waive proposing the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State was also voted down.

Despite mixed reactions from lawmakers, a majority opposed the bills during the voice vote. Following the outcome, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business urged the Speaker to allow individual reconsideration of the bills rather than treating them collectively.

However, Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Ali Jesse raised a point of order, citing legislative rules that any vote reversal must be brought forward through a substantive motion on notice. Speaker Abbas agreed and directed the Committee on Rules and Business to list a motion for rescission on the order paper for the next legislative day.